Team MRF driver and European champion Jan Kopecky (co-driver Pavel Dresler) took a comfortable lead after Day 1 of the International Rally of Queensland, the third round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), while teammate Gaurav Gill (Glenn Macneall) retired after crashing his Skoda Fabia S2000 here Saturday.

Team MRF was poised for a 1-2 finish in the VINZ International Rally of Whangarei, the opening round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) here Saturday as Jan Kopecky (co-driver Pavel Dresler) topped the time charts ahead of teammate Gaurav Gill (Glen Macneall), both in Skoda Fabia S2000.

Team MRF’s Gaurav Gill (co-driver Glenn Macneall) would be hoping to break a jinx at this weekend’s China Rally, the concluding round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and win the drivers’ crown besides helping his team win the manufacturers’ and team titles.

Team MRF drivers Esapekka Lappi (co-driver Janne Ferm) and Gaurav Gill (Glenn Macneall) head into this weekend`s Rally New Caledonia intent on building on their successful start to the 2013 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).